Friday, November 28, 2014

6 Steps To Hiring An Electrician

Hiring a company to do electrician services for your home or business can be a very stressful decision. What if you choose the wrong one and something disastrous happens down the line? What if the costs soar half way through the project and you can't afford to continue? This article attempts to provide a good step-by-step method for choosing the right electrician for the job. So take a deep breath... It will be okay!

STEP ONE: Appropriate Credentials Electrical services companies working in your home must be licensed and insured in case of problems. Every electrician you consider hiring should be licensed, insured, and bonded. They should be very willing to let you know their individual state license number. Also, check to see if they have the appropriate insurance for general liability and workers compensation. TIP: The potential dangers of hiring an uninsured electrician are enormous. What would happen if that "friend" of yours who "knows a lot about electricity" gets badly hurt while under your house or in the crawl space of your office? Well, more often than not, it is you who would be held 100% responsible for any injuries that they incurred while on your property.

STEP TWO: References Ask for and check their references! You want to make sure that the company has a history of doing good work in the community.

STEP THREE: Their Employees Some of the more reputable electric service companies make sure all of their employees are regularly drug-tested and background checked. This is a great indication that the company has your interests in mind before theirs. This process is an expensive one, and it tells you right away that they have invested a great deal in their own employees. TIP: See if the company is on any "best places to work" lists in your area.

A great place to work means that the employees are treated well and respected. Good feelings between employee and employer will translate to their work as well. happy and have your interests in mind above theirs.

STEP FOUR: Getting a Price Up Front Believe it or not, you won't get the best price by bidding the job around to multiple companies. Call ones that you are interested in working with, and get a feel for their customer service (a live person answering the phone is always a good sign!) THEN call one out to your home or office to prepare an estimate. A lot of companies are offering first time discounts for new customers, and if not will usually try to get your long-term business by cutting the costs of that first job. TIP: You want to develop a good, long lasting relationship with an electrician. The odds are that you will call them more than once during your stay in your home or office.

STEP FIVE: Knowing that you have called (Not Hired YET!) the right electrician. Here are a few things to look out for when that electrician comes to your door the first time: o A great electrician will ALWAYS arrive at your door in a clean uniform. The more professional companies insist that their electricians carry enough clean uniforms so that they can change after every job if one gets dirty. o A great electrician will have business cards with their company name, telephone number, and a license number on it. o A great electrician will NEVER perform a job without getting the appropriate permits. Yes, you can always get someone to do the job cheaper and faster by not pulling permits, but it puts you and your family/employees at great risk when you do so. Also, what happens if you don't pull permits and something goes wrong, like a fire? Chances are that your insurance company will make sure that the appropriate permits were in place, and, if not, you may not be covered!

o A great electrician will always call you back within 24- hours or less, provide a well documented written estimate outlining all labor and materials, and put a timeframe on the estimate as well. TIP: Let's say that the project unexpectedly "grows" at some point, and through no fault on anyones part you have to spend more to get it done. A great electrician will stop and provide an written addendum to the original estimate so that you know what to expect at the final bill.

o A great electrician will always listen to what you want to have done, and then make recommendations based on their expert opinion. There are many things that need to be factored into a rewiring job, for instance: (total amperage usage, dedicated circuits for computers, high wattage kitchen work lights, vacuum cleaner usage, types of bulbs needed, existing wiring, etc etc) A great electrician will factor in all of the ancillary things that you might not think about, explain them, and give you options on which direction you want to go.

o A great electrician will always wear those funny shoe covers when coming into your home from the attic or the basement. They also won't ever leave a mess of dust and debris once they are done.

o A great electrician will install parts that are designed for long-term use and wear. Any time you have electrical work done, you should also keep in mind the resale value of your home/office. Good contractor grade materials will only add to the value of your home/office, and will insure a great inspection report before the sale.

STEP SIX: Hiring your electrician Make sure before work begins that you have signed an official estimate approved by you and the contractor. Make sure that you have allotted enough time for the work to take place (major electrical projects the night before a big party is not a great idea!) Make sure that all permits are in hand and posted appropriately. TIP: Don't let price alone determine who gets the project. Go with a company that you trust, has good references, and has open communication with you about the project.

Good communication from an electrician is the best sign that they will do the job right, and that you can trust them. We hope that this helps in finding the right electrician for your project!